FundRaiser Blog
The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.
6 Ways to Stay Quick and Genuine with Your Thanks
Thanking donors seems like something so basic that we shouldn’t even have to talk about it. But more mistakes, with more devastating results for donor loyalty, are made in the thanking of donors than anyplace else. So, let’s go over six rules for saying “thank you” that are absolutely essential.
- Thank a donor immediately. Send out a thank-you note for a gift no later than the day after the gift is received. Nothing is more important than a prompt thank-you.
- Be humble. Don’t act as if or communicate the thought that you were expecting the gift as something that was the donor’s responsibility to do.
- Praise the donor’s generosity. Do not stint. Let the donor know how important the gift is.
- Praise your donor’s leadership. Anyone who gives is a leader and should be treated as such, and call attention to the fact that their gift will influence others to give.
- Thank donors for past support. When you receive today’s gift remind the donor how appreciative you are of past support, but do not talk about future support. Do not say thanks out of one side of your mouth and hint at future requests out of the other.
- And finally, never let a hint of disappointment show. Never, ever show a lack of gratitude for a gift, whatever its size.
There are two things that must be remembered about saying thanks. Donors expect it, and they deserve it.
To learn how FundRaiser can help you send out thank you letters quickly
About the author
Tony is the founder of Raise-Funds.com. For 20 years Tony was director of development for The Cleveland Orchestra. As such he was responsible for Cleveland’s largest annual institutional fund-raising campaign. Since 1993, Tony has been a fund-raising consultants. Tony’s experiences have won him a wide audience. He is the author of the widely used and praised book It’s a Great Day to Fund Raise, a step-by-step guide to help volunteers and professionals be as successful as possible as they carry out their fund-raising responsibilities.
Author's recent posts
Related Posts
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
small donations
operational costs
LYBUNTS
campaign management
Thanksgiving
operating systems
upgrading donors
Alternative Addresses
mission driven
Tickles
new donors
nonprofit fundraising
donor relations
data conversion
correspondance
letter templates
#GivingTuesday
FundRaiser Basic
volunteering
annual campaign
general
New Year
security
development director
Task List
Volunteer module
pictures
targeted mailings
ticketsales
change of address updating
online donations
donor
capital campaign
monthly giving
moves management
major gift prospects
salutation
ROI
reports
campaign
direct mail
segmenting donors
overview
gift acceptance policy
donor attrition rate
relationship tracking
donor source
training
accounting software
pledges
premiums
National Change of Address
donor contact information
correspondence
mailing
tribute gifts
merge notes
grassroots campaign
donor advised funds
GivingTuesday
spreadsheets
donor slip
building donor relationships
the Ask
Company culture
donor targeting
repeat donors
Snow Birds
letter
anonymous donors
donor prospects
passwords
email
event management
merge fields
case study
vacation
flash sales
Reminders
texting donors
donor recognition
annual maintenance plan
Facebook campaign
data analysis
board members
add ons
adding personal notes to letters
PayPal
welcome packet
social media
corporate sponsors
office
donor loyalty
Reporting to IRS
community supported gardens
arts
charity golf tournaments
user interface
ticket sales
increasing giving amounts
donor retention
major donors
gift entry
giving history
Codes
customer portal
holiday
endowment campaign
holiday giving
training tip
user spotlights
features
Importing Data
publicity materials
animal rescue
new version
gift notes field
upgrade
brick campaign
NCOA processing
updates
solicitors
support
mode code
new nonprofit
donor preferences
motivation code
GoFundMe project
understanding giving trends
thank you letters
in honor of donations
advanced tab
Congratulations
memorial giving
Constant Contact
Thank You
donor engagement
personalizing letters
transparency
Network for Good
on site training
Facebook
new features
Excel
membersip benefits
importing csv
new leadership
Donor Portal
follow up
data entry
donor attrition
disaster relief
fundraising
large donations
how-to videos
donation history
fundraising letters
custom page
Cloud
donor profile
giving levels
recurring gifts
planned giving
online donations
foundations
role of nonprofits
product news
Crowdfunding Campaign
appeal
holiday letters
volunteers
happiness
tech tip
legacy giving
FundRaiser Spark
entering auction gifts
auction
government grants
alumni
SYBUNTS
appeal letters
how to handle auction gifts
phoning donors
raffle
community broadcasting
planning
FundRaiser Hosted
motivation
tax summary letters
technical support
membership programs
In-Kind gifts
lapsed donor
communications
announcements
word processor
budget
customer service
donor retention rate
Personalizing
Resiliency
grants
community arts nonprofits
End of Year Letters
Groupings
spare fields
membership benefits
backing up data
password protection
prospects
banquet
look and feel